Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for fighting the nationwide drugs problem; the dedicated resources being put into combating drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18412/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains resolutely committed to tackling the problem of drug misuse through our National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The National Strategy addresses the problem under pillar headings of education and prevention, supply reduction, treatment and rehabilitation and research and is firmly founded on the principle that drug misuse needs to be addressed in an integrated manner across these headings through a co-operative approach involving the statutory, community and voluntary treatment sectors. I fully support this approach.

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, under the stewardship of my colleague and Minister of State Mr. Pat Carey, T.D., is the lead Government Department in co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy. My Department's remit in this area, while not exclusively, is primarily in the area of drug supply reduction, and drug law enforcement remains a key feature of the Government's drug policy framework.

I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Siochána will continue to direct its drug law enforcement activities in a focused way through intelligence driven operations at national, regional, divisional and district level. Underpinning this approach, An Garda Siochána will continue to invoke a number of broad strategic responses in addressing the issue. These include the following:

Identifying, targeting and dismantling national and international drug trafficking networks which supply and distribute illegal drugs within this state

Conducting intelligence driven operations focusing on all aspects of the illicit drugs trade including commodity, logistics, distribution and financing.

Working with other national and international law enforcement agencies on joint actions designed to reduce the availability of drugs and the proceeds derived from the drugs trade

Working in partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs within society.

The Garda National Drugs Unit co-ordinates large scale operations against drug dealing/ trafficking and Unit personnel either investigate such cases themselves or assist local investigation teams. Additional assistance is also available from other specialised Garda support units, such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau. A joint Garda National Drugs Unit/Criminal Assets Bureau initiative is in place which targets local dealers.

Significant drug seizures in this jurisdiction continue to be made as a result of this approach as evidenced by last weekend's successful policing operation in West Dublin. Such measures will continue to be vigorously pursued by An Garda Siochána.

With regard to resources, the extent of resources both in financial and personnel terms, which continues to be made available to An Garda Siochána is proof of the Government's commitment and determination to ensure that the Garda authorities will continue to implement targeted, intelligence and high intensity operations against organised crime with a special focus on drugs crime. The record figure of €5.27m allocated to the Garda National Drugs Unit in 2006 and the 103 vehicles allocated to the local Drugs Units last year (a 12% increase on the number of vehicles available in 2002) are examples of this.

In terms of personnel resources, I am informed by the Garda authorities that currently there is a total of 342 Gardaí dedicated to national and regional drugs units. These units are also supported in their work by officers from other national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Criminal Assets Bureau. In addition all Gardaí are tasked with confronting drugs related issues as they arise.

Furthermore in relation to the broader issues of Garda resources being made available by the Government, I can assure the Deputy that additional Garda resources are coming on stream all the time, with an accelerated intake of approximately 1100 new recruits per annum into the Garda College. These additional human resources will facilitate the Garda Commissioner in the allocation of additional manpower to areas most in need, including areas with a significant drug problem.

In conjunction with this, the Government are ensuring that our law enforcement agencies continue to have a strong legislative platform from which to operate in their work in tackling those involved in such criminal activity. The drug related provisions included in the Criminal Justice Acts 2006 and 2007 are recent examples of this policy. Finally I can assure the Deputy that the Government is very clear that there is no room for complacency in our response to the issue of drug misuse. The events in West Cork yesterday demonstrate this very clearly. Under my own area of remit, I would stress again that the enforcement of the law relating to drugs continues to be a key element in the Government's policing priorities.